US toymaker Mattel recalls 18 million Chinese-made toys

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Fears about toy safety soared yesterday as US toymaker Mattel recalled more than 18 million Chinese-made products worldwide, amid concerns about high lead levels and small magnets which have seriously injured at least three children.

"Mattel is recalling 18.2 million magnetic toys globally, 9.5 million in the US," the California-based company said in a statement.

All the toys were manufactured in China, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Mattel.

"The recall expands upon Mattel's voluntary recall of eight toys in November 2006 and is based on a thorough internal review of all Mattel's brands," the US toy manufacturer said.

Mattel recalled 4.4 million Polly Pocket play sets in November after receiving nearly 200 reports of magnets becoming dislodged.

Three children had to undergo surgery after swallowing more than one magnet that fell out of Polly Pocket toys, which perforated their intestines.

If swallowed, small magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal.

"There had been three reports of serious injuries to children who swallowed more than one magnet," the CPSC and Mattel said in a joint statement issued yesterday, announcing that another 7.3 million Polly Pocket play sets were being recalled.

Since the previous recall, Mattel has received another 400 reports of magnets coming loose from Polly Pocket toys.

Nancy Nord, chairwoman of the safety board, stressed that her agency has been "warning of the dangers from small magnets for more than a year."

About one million Doggie Day Care sets, nearly 700,000 toys from the popular Barbie line, and 345,000 Batman and One Piece action figures have also been recalled following reports of dislodged magnets.

Mattel has received 26 reports of magnets dislodging from those toys, but no injuries were reported.

Mattel is also recalling 436,000 die-cast "Sarge" jeeps from its Cars product line because of "impermissible levels of lead" in their paint.

More than 250,000 of the die-cast model car were recalled in the United States and 183,000 overseas.

The toy cars were painted by a subcontracting company in China, which "violated Mattel's standards and utilized paint from a non-authorized third-party supplier," the California-based toy company said in a statement.